Abstract: A hydraulic distributor for safely and efficiently top charging a bell-less blast furnace. The hydraulic distributor includes a main housing, an inner ring, a trunnion, and an actuator ring, which act together to lift and rotate the distributor chute. Hydraulic tilt cylinders operatively coupled to the inner ring act to lift the distributor chute to change tilt. Rotational Drives operatively coupled to the trunnion act to rotate the distributor chute. The hydraulic distributor provides improved repeatability and precision control of the distributor chute, and hence the placement of burden materials within the blast furnace resulting in improved productivity and operation of the furnace. The hydraulic distributor provides a less complex design and construction resulting in reduced costs for manufacturing and maintenance.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for drilling a hole through a solid body is disclosed. The drill bit includes a collar and a penetrating member. At a proximal end, the collar is attachable to a drill shaft. At a distal end, the collar is attachable to the penetrating member. The penetrating member has a connecting end for attachment to the collar and a cutting end for engaging the solid body. A pilot drill is fixedly attached to the cutting end for initiating contact with the solid body.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for drilling a hole through a solid body is disclosed. The drill bit includes a collar and a penetrating member. At a proximal end, the collar is attachable to a drill shaft. At a distal end, the collar is attachable to the penetrating member. The penetrating member has a connecting end for attachment to the collar and a cutting end for engaging the solid body. A pilot drill is fixedly attached to the cutting end for initiating contact with the solid body.

Abstract: A rotary drill for boring a hole through a solid body is disclosed. The drill bit comprises a collar (16) and a penetrating member (20). At a proximal end (32), the collar is attachable to a drill shaft (12). At a distal end (36), the collar is attachable to the penetrating member (20). The penetrating member (20) has a connecting end (64) for attachment to the collar and a cutting end (60) for engaging the solid body. A pilot drill (96) is fixedly attached to the cutting end for initiating contact with the solid body.

Abstract: A coupling device for use in inserting a soaking bar into a clay plugged blast furnace tap hole with a rotary percussion tool, having a first axial aperture at a first end adapted to be fitted onto a driving post of a rotary percussion tool, and having a second axial aperture at a second end adapted to receive and retain an end of a soaking bar in axial alignment with the coupling. The second axial aperture further includes jaws for releasably engaging the end of the soaking bar, and an impact body for transferring axial impact loads from the rotary impact tool to the end of the soaking bar.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus for drilling a worn and/or damaged tap hole refractory liner sleeve from a tap hole nozzle of an oxygen blown steelmaking vessel, the apparatus including an elongated, hollow boom structure with an elongated drill shaft rotatably disposed within the boom structure, motor means for rotating the drill shaft and moving it in both directions within the boom structure, and a clamp means at the outer end of the boom structure adapted to attach the outer end of the boom structure to the tap hole nozzle in an accurate, axially aligned position. A drill bit for use with the above drilling apparatus comprises a plurality of conventional rock drill bits attached to a base plate equally spaced in a pair of concentric circular arrangement around an axis of the base plate.

Abstract: The component parts of a drill rod assembly on a blast furnace tap hole drill are joined together by providing a unique threaded coupling in which the threads do not torque tightly against each other but maintain a loose, floating relationship to thereby permit the coupling to be threaded together by hand without the use of a wrench, and such that the drilling action of the percussion drill will maintain the components in a joined relationship.

Abstract: A blast furnace tap hole drill is provided having an elongated feedshell which supports a percussion drill, drill rod assembly, and a centralizing drill rod support disposed between the percussion drill and a stationary forward end drill rod support, and a drive means for advancing the percussion drill and centralizing drill rod support in unison along the length of the feedshell such that the advancing motion of the centralizing drill rod support ceases as it nears the forward drill rod support without stopping the advancing motion of the percussion drill.

Abstract: The component parts of a drill rod assembly on a blast furnace tap hole drill are joined together by providing a coupling having at least one extension with frusto-conical side walls adapted to mate with a socket having frusto-conical side walls within the drill rod component to be connected thereto, or in the alternative, incorporating such a coupling as a portion of one of the component parts.

Abstract: An improved extension bar for a drill rod assembly on a blast furnace tap hole drill having an increased diameter sufficient to occupy a significant portion of tap hole drilled so as to minimize the volume of blast furnace hot metal that can emerge from the blast furnace before the striking bas assembly can be removed, and having a protective sleeve portion at the rearward end thereof to shield and protect the interface between the drill rod and extension bar to prevent such interface from being exposed the hot metal and thereby avoid the possibility that they could become welded together.

Abstract: A fiberizing spinner for converting a stream of molten material into a plurality of fibers includes a substantially cylindrically shaped copper shell. A complementary shaped coolant guide is disposed within the shell and is closely spaced from the inner surface thereof so as to define a highly restrictive narrow flow passage. A liquid coolant is supplied to the passage where the velocity of the same is made to accelerate to an ultrahigh velocity of at least 10 feet per second across the inner surface of the shell to thereby sweep away steam generated upon the surface.

Abstract: A taphole for a melting furnace includes a cylindrically shaped copper shell having a central opening through which molten material from a furnace passes and includes a reduced inner diameter portion defining an orifice. A plurality of narrow holes are formed in the shell wall adjacent the orifice but isolated therefrom and are interconnected to form a plurality of highly restrictive flow passages. Coaxially arranged about the copper shell is a coolant guide having a surface which is closely spaced from the copper thereby defining another highly restrictive flow passage which is also in communication with the plurality of passages around the orifice. A liquid coolant is supplied to the passages where the velocity of the same is made to accelerate to an ultrahigh velocity of at least 10 feet per second across nonworking surfaces of the copper shell forming parts of said passages to thereby sweep away steam generated upon the surfaces.

Abstract: A fiberizing spinner for converting a stream of molten material into a plurality of fibers includes a substantially cylindrically shaped copper shell. A complementary shaped coolant guide is disposed within the shell and is closely spaced from the inner surface thereof so as to define a highly restrictive narrow flow passage. A liquid coolant is supplied to the passage where the velocity of the same is made to accelerate to an ultrahigh velocity of at least 10 feet per second across the inner surface of the shell to thereby sweep away steam generated upon the surface.

Abstract: A trough for delivering molten material flowing from a furnace includes an elongated copper member along which the material flows. A coolant guide is located beneath the copper member and is closely spaced therefrom so as to define a highly restrictive narrow coolant flow passage. A liquid coolant is supplied to the passage where the velocity of the same is made to accelerate to an ultrahigh velocity of at least 10 feet per second across the undersurface of the copper member to thereby sweep away steam generated upon the surface.

Abstract: Molten slag is fed from a receptacle to an atmosphere-controlled carbon-lined electric furnace through a refractory-lined siphon tube without allowing atmospheric gases to enter the furnace. Siphoning is initiated by reducing the atmospheric pressure within the furnace through the use of an auxiliary vacuum tank. Slag from the furnace is spun to form mineral wool insulation.

Abstract: A substantially spherically-shaped electric melting furnace includes a carbon-lined crucible. The interior of said crucible is sealed from the atmosphere outside the crucible and a vacuum pump and venturi device control the atmosphere within the crucible by removing oxygen therefrom. A feeder lock allows material to be fed into the crucible without interfering with the atmospheric control of the crucible and a tap hole adjacent the lower portion of the crucible allows molten material to be removed. When used in the manufacture of mineral wool insulation, slag is fed into the crucible to be melted and the molten slag from the tap hole is delivered to a fiberizing device.

Abstract: An electrically conductive refractory lined crucible is covered by a refractory lined roof. At least one electrode supported by the roof extends downwardly into the crucible for melting the flux within the crucible. The crucible lining itself functions as the second electrode. The roof and the crucible are air-tight thereby preventing air from entering the crucible. An exhaust port located in the upper portion of the roof is connected to a vacuum device for exhausting fumes from the crucible and for controlling the atmosphere within the crucible.

Abstract: A drilling bit for blast furnace tap holes and the like which facilitates rapid drilling of clay within the tap hole and which can be readily and easily machined to accommodate tap holes of different diameters. The bit is characterized in having inclined cutting edges which converge into a point and are separated by flutes into which compressed air is forced to rapidly dislodge the drilled clay from between the cutting edges. By virtue of the convergence of the cutting edges into a point, the bit becomes self-centering during the drilling operation.

Abstract: A graphite lined crucible includes an upper horizontally extending flange having a seal ring around its periphery. The crucible may be raised by a hydraulic cylinder so as to bring the seal ring into engagement with the inside of a refractory lined roof. Electrodes supported by the roof extend downwardly into the crucible for melting the flux within the crucible. The roof and the crucible are air-tight thereby preventing air from entering the crucible. An exhaust port located in the upper portion of the roof is connected to a vacuum device for exhausting fumes from the crucible and for controlling the atmosphere within the crucible.